Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini has told Roberto Martinez that he wants to leave the Toffees, as Manchester United continue to monitor the Belgian internationals situation. Fellaini, 25, has already been the subject of two bids from David Moyes and with his latest revelations United could well come in for a third and final bid before the transfer deadline.

And another Everton player is still rumored to be heading to United, as England left back Leighton Baines could be included in a double swoop by former Everton manager Moyes. The deal for Everton’s prized assets could reach $54 million as United are expected to table to a bid today but would Baines be a regular for the Red Devils? With Patrice Evra still in fine form at the age of 32 it’s hard to see Baines coming straight into the starting lineup ahead of the French veteran.

Arsenal are still planning to strengthen their side as the transfer window comes to a close, with manager Arsene Wenger aiming to bring in three Real Madrid stars. Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozilhave all been targeted by the Gunners but there’s one snag: it all hinges on Madrid’s deal for Gareth Bale being done before the deadline. Spurs are dragging their heels on the Bale deal so that their North London rivals can’t plan to bring in three top internationals from Madrid. The deal to bring all three to the Emirates would cost a whopping $105 million and would silence all the doubters that Wenger has had throughout a summer of transfer struggles. Can it be done?

Can Arsenal really seal a triple swoop for Benzema, Ozil and Di Maria?

On a smaller scale, Arsenal have also bid for St. Etienne midfielder Josuha Guilavogui after putting in an offer of $12 million. The 23-year-old is a holding midfielder, which raises a few eyebrows after Wenger only added former Arsenal stopper and fellow Frenchman Mathieu Flamini yesterday. But French international Guilavogui can also play at center-back and this move could considerably strengthen Arsenal’s options in midfield and defense.

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry could be heading to Merseyside, as Everton aim to tie up a season-long loan deal for the 32-year-old. Barry hasn’t featured for City this season and his time at the Etihad appears to be over. Roberto Martinez could see Barry as a cheap replacement if Fellaini does move to Manchester United however one stumbling block is that Barry’s wages of $180,000 per week is way out of Everton’s wage structure. A compromise must be met.

And another player Martinez is aiming to attract to Goodison Park is one of his former Wigan players, James McCarthy. The Republic of Ireland international dazzled under the Spanish coach at the DW Stadium and could be reunited with Martinez at Everton. A bid is about to be tabled and McCarthy could be another direct replacement for Fellaini. Would Everton fans be happy with that? The 22-year-old midfielder is crafty and diligent in the engine room but may struggle to replicate Fellaini’s goalscoring threat.

As for City, their need for a new central defender has become abundantly clear in recent weeks and Pellegrini has his eye on FC Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala. The 22-year-old French international has a $60 million buy-out clause in his contract and Chelsea, Barcelona and Manchester United have all been following his progress closely. Maybe City will spend big one more time before the window slams shut, the Citizen’s could certainly do with some defensive reinforcements.

FC Schalke are set to sign AC Milan attacker Kevin-Prince Boateng to boost their Champions League hopes this season. Boateng, 26, was born in Berlin but represents Ghana at international level and can operate across midfield and attack. The former Hertha Berlin, Tottenham and Portsmouth midfielder has shone in recent seasons at the San Siro but a move back to the Bundesliga seems like a done deal. Schalke’s marquee addition could see them surprise plenty of people in the Champions League this campaign.

“Arsenal, as a team, look in good shape and whilst we have a lot of confidence, given their form too, it isn’t a good time to play them.

“At times, Arsenal have struggled with consistency, and it has cost them, but you sense this could be their year. It’s important for us to give ourselves an opportunity to get something out of the game, we need to stay in the match and frustrate them.”

This week’s match with Arsenal kicks off a four-week run that goes Arsenal, Saints, Leicester, Liverpool, Chelsea.

Nicolas Loderio is getting set to play in the MLS Cup finals, something that only came to pass with a team visit to the United States, and the assistance of Luis Suarez.

According to Seattle Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey, he spoke with Lodeiro often in his attempts to bring the 27-year-old from Boca Juniors to Major League Soccer. The moment that swayed him was a trip to the US. A business trip.

With Uruguay competing in the Copa America Centenario, it allowed the two to speak more frequently, but when the Uruguayan became frustrated with his own handle of the native language, a friend stepped in to help. He asked national teammate Suarez to help translate, and thus the transfer came to pass.

“You don’t have body language, it’s harder than it is straight to the face and so he just got frustrated that he couldn’t understand everything that I’m saying,” Lagerwey told MLSSoccer.com’s radio show. “And so he says, ‘Hold on, speak to my friend,’ and I said, ‘OK,’ and I have no idea what’s happening. And Luis Suarez gets on and says, ‘Hi, this is Luis Suarez, how are you?’ And I’m like, ‘Morning, Mr. Suarez, how are you?’ And he was our translator.”

Lodiero has been a revelation for the Sounders since joining in the summer. A creative force all season, the Uruguayan has scored four goals in five playoff matches, bursting onto the national scene on the biggest stage.

“It was just funny. Nico and I, we talked fairly regularly during the process, in part because it took four months for the thing to play out,” “And he was in the US for the Copa America with Uruguay, obviously, and in hindsight that ended up being a big deciding factor for him, because he brought his wife and his little son and they got to see America and I think liked it and developed a comfort level with it. And I think that’s what ultimately pushed them to make the leap, but I was talking and Nico’s English is actually pretty, pretty good, but he isn’t always so comfortable on the phone.”

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Zinedine Zidane is one match away from coaching Real Madrid to a new unbeaten record.

When Zidane replaced Rafa Benitez midway through last season, the inexperienced former midfield standout got off to an auspicious start with a 5-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna.

Eleven months and one Champions League title later, Madrid faces Deportivo again at home on Saturday with the chance of surpassing its longest unbeaten run since the club was founded in 1902.

On Wednesday, Madrid equaled a club record of 34 games without a loss set in 1989 under coach Leo Beenhakker when it drew 2-2 with Borussia Dortmund.

“It’s important to continue to make history and continue our good run,” Zidane said after the match. “I don’t think it’s very important for me to leave my mark. What interests me the most is to continue with this great run that we’re on.”

Last season, when Real Madrid president Florentino Perez tapped Zidane to take over a struggling team, the decision smelled of desperation.

A fan favorite from his playing days as part of Madrid’s “galaticos” bunch, Zidane was promoted from coaching the reserve team to take over a side that was lurching from one embarrassing episode to the next.

Madrid’s 2015-16 campaign had started with Perez flubbing his play to sign away Manchester United goalie David De Gea. The team was then disqualified from the Copa de Rey for fielding an illegible player, and it endured a 4-0 defeat from Barcelona at home as it failed to click with Benitez.

Perez needed to make an impact move. But instead of searching for a veteran manager, he charged the unproven Zidane with turning around Madrid’s group of talented underachievers.

At first, the team remained erratic, and even looked set to bow out of the Champions League after a shocking 2-0 loss at German side Wolfsburg.

But that defeat on April 6 proved to be a catalyst. The team hasn’t lost since, recovering to claim its 11th European Cup and almost nip Barcelona for the Spanish league crown, before roaring out to lead la Liga this season.

Zidane, whose top-tier coaching experience had been limited to his stint as an assistant under Carlo Ancelotti, has now reached the half-century mark as head manager. During that 50-match period, he has overseen 37 wins, 11 draws and only two losses. That other loss came at Atletico Madrid in February.

“The players have to be congratulated. They’re the ones out on the pitch, it’s them who run, fight and dig in,” Zidane said. “We also have to thank the fans, who always get behind the team and support us. They’ve got to take some credit for what the team is achieving”.

Gifted with world-class stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, Zidane focused on getting more from Madrid’s supporting cast. He put a new emphasis on defense in his midfield by favoring Mateo Kovacic and Casemiro over flashier playmakers James Rodriguez and Francisco “Isco” Alarcon, and he has helped the little-known Lucas Vazquez blossom into an important piece of its attack.

“(Zidane) has gotten us to work hard and for things to go well for us, and that is paying off with this run of 34 unbeaten games,” defender Dani Carvajal said. “Everyone on the team has words of praise for him.”

Whereas the draw with Dortmund was disappointing because it cost Madrid a first-place finish in its Champions League group, its 1-1 stalemate earned last weekend at Barcelona tasted of victory. The “clasico” draw kept Madrid six points clear of Barcelona at the top of the Spanish table.

After it plays Deportivo, Madrid heads to Japan for the Club World Cup.

If Zidane sets the new club mark, his next goal would be the milestone held by Barcelona under counterpart Luis Enrique, whose 39-game unbeaten run was ended by Madrid last April.